Charles Schwab vs. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing: Which Broker Is Right for You?
Review
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Today's investors have a full range of brokers from which to choose. However, no two brokers are alike or can fit the needs of every investor. Charles Schwab and J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing are the perfect examples. They each represent big names in investing, but are quite different when it comes to offerings.
In this overview of Charles Schwab vs. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing, we examine each broker and compare the two. When you finish reading this comparison, you will have a clearer picture of what each offers, from fees to available investments. The goal is to gain a better understanding of which broker might be right for you.
| Offer |
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|---|---|---|
| Rating |
Rating 
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
Rating
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
| Commissions |
Commissions $0 per trade online $0 per trade |
Commissions |
| Account Minimum |
Account Minimum |
Account Minimum |
| Learn More |
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Both brokers have done a good job of keeping costs low. For example, neither company charges a commission for trading stocks, ETFs, or options (although investors do pay $0.65 per options contract). Mutual funds are also available for purchase without a commission.
Charles Schwab and J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing do charge a fee for moving money out of your account, although Schwab's fee is $25 lower than J.P. Morgan's.
| Charles Schwab | J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock & ETF commissions | $0 | $0 |
| Options commissions | $0 + $0.65 per contract | $0 + $0.65 per contract |
| Crypto commissions | N/A | N/A |
| Mutual fund commissions | $0 | $0 |
| Account transfer fee | $50 ($0 for partial transfers) | $75 |
| Account maintenance fee | N/A | N/A |
Neither Charles Schwab nor J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offers direct access to crypto trading at this time, although that may be subject to change. Take a look at the following table, and you'll see that Schwab has J.P. Morgan beat when it comes to other investment options. Schwab gives investors the opportunity to trade fractional shares, futures, and currencies, while J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing does not.
And when it comes to mutual fund options, Charles Schwab also comes out on top, with nearly 17,000 to choose from, compared to J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's "several thousand."
| Charles Schwab | J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks and ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional shares | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual funds | Yes | Yes |
| CDs | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | No | No |
| Currencies | Yes | No |
We recommend comparing brokerage options to ensure the account you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of our best trading platforms of 2025.
| Broker | Best For | Commissions | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|
5.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
Full-service investing at every experience level | $0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETFs*. No account fees****. |
Learn More for Fidelity
On Fidelity's Secure Website. |
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
Managing your finances under one roof | $0 for stocks, $0 for options contracts |
Learn More for SoFi Active Investing
On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website. |
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
Low fees on stocks, ETFs, crypto, and options | $0 for stocks, ETFs, and options |
Learn More for Robinhood
On Robinhood's Secure Website. |
Simply put, Charles Schwab gives investors more to choose from. While both brokers provide traditional and Roth IRAs, only Charles Schwab offers other retirement options. You can open a custodial account at Schwab, but not at J.P. Morgan. The same is true if you want to open a joint tenant account.
| Charles Schwab | J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | |
|---|---|---|
| Taxable brokerage | Yes | Yes |
| Joint tenant | Yes | No |
| Margin | Yes | Yes |
| Robo-advisor | Yes | Yes |
| Traditional IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Other IRAs/Retirement | Yes, SEP-IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Solo 401(k) | No |
| Custodial | Yes, the Schwab One® Custodial Account allows you to make financial gifts to a minor while teaching the child how investments work. | No |
| Checking | Yes | Yes |
| Savings | Yes | Yes |
| Credit card | Yes, under the American Express Platinum Card® for Schwab | No, although you can manage your Chase credit cards, bank accounts, and all other J.P. Morgan investment accounts in one place |
For some, the majority of their investing begins online. Here, we're taking a closer look at what you can expect from Charles Schwab and J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's mobile app and trading platforms.
Charles Schwab's platform is another area in which the company shines. Its platform is designed to address the needs of investors, whether they're novice or experienced traders.
Opinions regarding Schwab's mobile apps are both hot and cold. iOS users give it 4.8 out of 5 stars, but Android users rate the app 2.3.
The most impressive feature of J.P. Morgan's platform is its portfolio builder. The broker refers to these tools as "portfolio construction tools." Regardless of what they're called, these tools could provide a real leg-up for investors.
The tools include a portfolio analysis, which gives you a fresh perspective on how well your portfolio is balanced. There's also an investment comparison tool that allows you to analyze investments instantly. Finally, there's a tool that builds hypothetical bond ladders, letting you see in advance what it would be like to build one of your own.
The fly in the ointment is that access to the portfolio builders requires a minimum investment of $2,500, leaving many young investors out in the cold.
Access to the account is available through the Chase Mobile® Bank & Invest app. iOS users give the app an excellent score of 4.8 out of 5 stars, and Android users offer a score of 4.4.
We like that J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing allows ordinary people without a ton of money a place to invest. However, to access the best features on the J.P. Morgan platform, investors must have at least $2,500 to get started.
On the other hand, Charles Schwab's platform has a wealth of features anyone can use without spending more money. Charles Schwab provides more investing opportunities and earned the highest ranking in overall customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Full-Service Investor Satisfaction Study. These factors make it the clear winner.
Charles Schwab pioneered the low-cost brokerage model decades ago, and that legacy continues with its lineup of no-commission-fee offerings. The robust lineup of account types, investment vehicles, and high quality app round out the stacked feature set.
$0 stock, ETF, and Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource® trades. No fees to buy fractional shares.
$0
A no-frills platform with $0 mutual fund fees, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offers easy trading, an optional robo-advisor, and seamless Chase integration.
$0 per trade
$0
Earn a bonus up to $700 when you open and fund a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account (retirement or general) with qualifying new money by 7/22/2025.
On J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's Secure Website.
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J.P Morgan Disclosure
INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS ARE: NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE
Fidelity disclosure
Investing involves risk, including risk of loss
* - $0.00 commission applies to online U.S. equity trades and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in a Fidelity retail account only for Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC retail clients. Sell orders are subject to an activity assessment fee (historically from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). Other exclusions and conditions may apply. A limited number of ETFs are subject to a transaction-based service fee of $100. See full list at Fidelity.com/commissions. Employee equity compensation transactions and accounts managed by advisors or intermediaries through Fidelity Institutional® are subject to different commission schedules.
**Fidelity Crypto® is offered by Fidelity Digital Assets®. Investing involves risk, including risk of total loss. Crypto as an asset class is highly volatile, can become illiquid at any time, and is for investors with a high risk tolerance. Crypto may also be more susceptible to market manipulation than securities. Crypto is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. Investors in crypto do not benefit from the same regulatory protections applicable to registered securities. Fidelity Crypto® accounts and custody and trading of crypto in such accounts are provided by Fidelity Digital Asset Services, LLC, which is chartered as a limited purpose trust company by the New York State Department of Financial Services to engage in virtual currency business (NMLS ID 1773897). Brokerage services in support of securities trading are provided by Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (“FBS”), and related custody services are provided by National Financial Services LLC (“NFS”), each a registered broker-dealer and member NYSE and SIPC. Neither FBS nor NFS offer crypto as a direct investment nor provide trading or custody services for such assets. Fidelity Crypto and Fidelity Digital Assets are registered service marks of FMR LLC.
***Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk. Before trading options, please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Supporting documentation for any claims, if applicable, will be furnished upon request.
****Zero account minimums and zero account fees apply to retail brokerage accounts only. Expenses charged by investments (e.g., funds, managed accounts, and certain HSAs) and commissions, interest charges, or other expenses for transactions may still apply. See Fidelity.com/commissions for further details.
Robinhood disclosure
All investments involve risk and loss of principal is possible.
Securities are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Cryptocurrency services are offered through an account with Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840). Robinhood Crypto is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected. For more information see the Robinhood Crypto Risk Disclosure.
Trades of stocks, ETFs and options are commission-free at Robinhood Financial LLC. Other fees may apply. Please see Robinhood Financial’s Fee Schedule to learn more.
Fractional shares are illiquid outside of Robinhood and are not transferable. Not all securities available through Robinhood are eligible for fractional share orders. For a complete explanation of conditions, restrictions and limitations associated with fractional shares, see the Fractional Shares section of our Customer Agreement.
Robinhood Gold is an account offering premium services available for a $5 monthly fee. Not all investors will be eligible to trade on Margin. Margin investing involves the risk of greater investment losses. Additional interest charges may apply depending on the amount of margin used. Bigger Instant Deposits are only available if your Instant Deposits status is in good standing.
Investing is risky. Bonus offers subject to terms and conditions, visit robinhood.com/hoodweek for more information. Margin is not suitable for all investors. Robinhood Gold is offered through Robinhood Gold LLC and is a subscription offering services for a fee. Brokerage services offered through Robinhood Financial LLC (member SIPC), a registered broker dealer.
For rates and fees for the American Express Platinum Card® for Schwab, click here
